Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English)

Surah
Al Saff

Alama Imad ud Din Ibn Kathir

"We asked,
`Who among us should go to the Messenger and ask him about the
dearest actions to Allah' None among us volunteered. The
Messenger sent a man to us and that man gathered us and recited
this Surah, Surah As-Saff, in its
entirety.'''

This honorable
Ayah supports the view that several scholars of the
Salaf held, that it is
necessary to fulfill the
promise, regardless of whether the promise includes some type of
wealth for the person receiving the promise or otherwise.

They also
argue from the Sunnah, with the
Hadith recorded in the Two Sahihs in which Allah's Messenger
said,

However, they
retreated and fled, leaving the Prophet behind. It was about
their case that Allah revealed this Ayah:

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آَمَنُوا لِمَ تَقُولُونَ
مَا لَا تَفْعَلُونَ

O you who
believe! Why do you say that which you do not do

Allah says
here, `The dearest of you to Me, is he who fights in My
cause.'''

Some said that
it was revealed about the gravity of fighting in battle, when
one says that he fought and endured the battle, even though he
did not do so.

Qatadah and
Ad-Dahhak said that this Ayah was sent down to admonish some
people who used to say that they
killed, fought, stabbed,
and did such and such during battle, even though they did not do
any of it.

Why do you
annoy me while you know certainly that I am the Messenger of
Allah to you?

meaning, `why
do you annoy me even though you know my truth regarding the
Message that I brought you' This brings consolation for Allah's
Messenger for what the disbelievers among his people and others
did to him. And it orders him to be patient.

O you who
believe! Be not like those who annoyed Musa, but Allah cleared
him of that which they alleged, and he was honorable before
Allah. (33:69)

And His
saying:

... فَلَمَّا
زَاغُوا أَزَاغَ اللَّهُ قُلُوبَهُمْ ...

So, when they
turned away, Allah turned their hearts away,

means, when
the Jews turned away from following the guidance, even though
they knew it, Allah turned their hearts away from the guidance.
Instead, Allah placed doubts, suspicion and failure in their
hearts, just as He said,

And whoever
contradicts and opposes the Messenger after the right path has
been shown clearly to him, and follows other than the believers'
way, We shall keep him in the path he has chosen, and enter him
in Hell, what an evil destination it is! (4:115),

And when
`Isa, son of
Maryam, said: "O Children of Israel! I am the Messenger
of Allah unto you, confirming the Tawrah
before me, and giving glad tidings of a Messenger to come after
me, whose name shall be Ahmad.''

`Isa said,

"The
Tawrah conveyed the glad tidings of
my coming, and my coming confirms the truth of the
Tawrah. I convey the glad tidings
of the Prophet who will come after me. He is the unlettered,
Makkan, Arab Prophet and Messenger,
Ahmad.''

`Isa, peace be upon him, is the
last and final Messenger from among the Children of Israel. He
remained among the Children of Israel for a while, conveying the
good news of the coming of Muhammad,
whose name is also Ahmad, the Last
and Final Prophet and Messenger. After
Muhammad, there will be no Prophethood or Messengers.

How admirable
the Hadith is that Al-Bukhari collected in his Sahih from Jubayr
bin Mut`im, who said,

I am the
(result of the) invocation made to Allah from my father Ibrahim
and the good news `Isa delivered. When my mother was pregnant
with me, she had a dream in which she saw a light emanating from
her that radiated the palaces of Basra in Ash-Sham.''

This Hadith
has a good chain of narration that is supported by other similar
narrations.

Imam Ahmad
recorded that Al-`Irbad bin Sariyah said, "The Messenger of
Allah said,

I was written
with Allah as the Last and Final of the Prophet, even when Adam
was still clay. I will tell of the first good news announcing my
advent, the (result of the) invocation to Allah made from my
father Ibrahim, the good news `Isa conveyed, and the dream that
my mother saw. The mothers of all Prophets see similar dreams.''

Imam Ahmad
recorded that Abu Umamah said,

"I said, `O
Allah's Messenger! What was the first good news of your coming?'

The Quraysh
sent Amr bin Al-`As and Umarah bin Al-Walid with a gift for
An-Najashi. When they, Amr and `Umarah, came to An-Najashi, they
prostrated before him and stood to his right and left. Amr and
Umarah said,

"Some of our
cousins migrated to your land; they have abandoned us and our
religion.''

An-Najashi
said, "Where are they''

They said,
"They are in your land, so send for them,'' so An-Najashi
summoned the Muslims.

Jafar said to
the Muslims, "I will be your speaker today.'' So, the Muslims
followed Jafar and when he entered on the king he did not
prostrate after greeting him.

They said to
Jafar, "Why do you not prostrate before the king'?'

Jafar said,
"We only prostrate for Allah, the Exalted and Most Honored.''

They said,
"Why?''

He said,

"Allah has
sent a Messenger to us from Him, who ordered us not to prostrate
to anyone except Allah, the Exalted and Most Honored. He also
ordered to perform prayer and give charity.''

"We only say
what Allah said about him, that he is Allah's Word, a soul
created by Allah and sent down to the honorable virgin who was
not touched by a man nor bearing children before.''

An-Najashi
lifted a straw of wood and said,

"O Ethiopians,
monks and priests! By Allah, what they say about `Isa is no more
than what we say about him, not even a difference that equals
this straw. You are welcomed among us, and greetings to him who
sent you. I bear witness that he is Allah's Messenger whom we
read about in the Injil. He is the
Prophet who `Isa, son of Maryam, foretold the good news about
his advent. Live wherever you wish. By Allah, had I not been
entrusted with the responsibilities of kingship, I would have
gone to him, so that I could be honored by carrying his slippers
and his water for ablution.''

The king
ordered that the gifts of the idolators be returned to them.

Abdullah bin
Mas`ud soon returned and later on participated in the battle of
Badr. He said that when the Prophet
received the news that An-Najashi died, he invoked Allah to
forgive him.

Allah said,

... فَلَمَّا جَاءهُم بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ قَالُوا هَذَا
سِحْرٌ مُّبِينٌ﴿٦﴾

But when he
came to them with clear proofs, they said: "This is plain
magic.''

this refers to
Ahmad, who was anticipated, in
accordance with the early Scriptures and early generations,
according to Ibn Jurayj and Ibn Jarir.

When the
Prophet appeared bringing clear signs, the disbelievers and
rejecters said,هَذَا
سِحْرٌ مُّبِينٌ (This is plain magic).

indicating
that the disbelievers will try to contradict the truth with
falsehood. Their attempts are similar to one's attempt to
extinguish the sun with his mouth, which is impossible. Likewise
is the case of their attempt to extinguish truth.

We mentioned a
Hadith from Abdullah bin Salam in that the Companions wanted to
ask the Prophet of Allah about the best actions with Allah the
Exalted and Most Honored, so they could practice them. Allah the
Exalted sent down this Surah, including this Ayah,

meaning, `if
you fulfill what I commanded you and guided you to, then I will
forgive your sins and admit you into the Gardens of Paradise. In
them, you will have exalted residences and high positions.'

If you help
(in the cause of) Allah, He will help you, and make your
foothold firm. (47:7),

and,

وَلَيَنصُرَنَّ
اللَّهُ مَن يَنصُرُهُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَقَوِىٌّ عَزِيزٌ

Verily, Allah
will help those who help His (cause). Truly, Allah is All
Strong, All-Wise. (22:40)

Allah's
statement, وَفَتْحٌ قَرِيبٌ
(and a near victory), means, it will come sooner, and this is
the increased favor that is earned in this life and continues,
becoming the delight of the Hereafter. It is for those who obey
Allah and His Messenger and support Allah and His religion.

Be you
helpers (in the cause) of Allah as said `Isa, son of Maryam, to
the Hawariyyin (the disciples):

Allah the
Exalted orders His faithful servants to be Allah's supporters at
all times, in all their statements and actions, sacrificing
their selves and wealth. Allah orders them to accept His and His
Messenger's call, just as the disciples said to Prophet `Isa
when he said,

... مَنْ
أَنصَارِي إِلَى اللَّهِ
...

Who are my
helpers (in the cause) of Allah?

meaning, `who
will support me in conveying the Message of Allah, the Exalted
and Most Honored'

... قَالَ
الْحَوَارِيُّونَ
...

The
Hawariyyun said:

in reference
to the followers of `Isa, peace be upon him,

... نَحْنُ
أَنصَارُ اللَّهِ
...

We are Allah's
helpers.

meaning, `we
will support you with regards to the Message you have been sent
with and will help you convey it.'

Whereby, `Isa
sent the disciples to the various areas of Ash-Sham to call the
Greeks and the Israelites to Islam.

Who will
support me in conveying the Message of my Lord Verily, the
Quraysh have prevented me from conveying the Message of my Lord.

Allah the
Exalted and Most Honored raised Al-Aws and Al-Khazraj to support
the Prophet. They were the residents of Al-Madinah who gave the
pledge to him and supported him, vowing to protect him from
mankind and the Jinns if he migrated to them. When he migrated
to them with his Companions, they fulfilled their vow to Allah.
This is the reason why Allah and His Messenger called them,
Al-Ansar, the Supporters. The name
became synonymous with them. May Allah be pleased with them and
please them, as well.

A Group of the Children of Israel
believed in `Isa and a Group of Them disbelieved

Then a group
of the Children of Israel believed and a group disbelieved.

When `Isa,
peace be on him, conveyed the Message of his Lord to his people
and the disciples supported him, a group from the Children of
Israel believed. They accepted the guidance that `Isa brought to
them, while another group, was led astray. This group rejected
what `Isa brought them, denied his Prophethood and invented
terrible lies about him and his mother. They are the Jews, may
Allah curse them until the Day of Judgement.

Another group
exaggerated over `Isa, until they elevated him to more than the
level of Prophethood that Allah gave him. They divided into
sects and factions, some saying that `Isa was the son of Allah,
while others said that he was one in a trinity, and this is why
they invoke the father, the son and the holy ghost! Some of them
said that `Isa was Allah, as we mentioned in the
Tafsir of
Surah An-Nisa'.

Allah gives Victory to the Believing
Group

Allah said,

... فَأَيَّدْنَا
الَّذِينَ آَمَنُوا عَلَى عَدُوِّهِمْ ...

So, We gave
power to those who believed against their enemies,

that is, `We
gave them victory over the group of Christians which defied
them,'

... فَأَصْبَحُوا
ظَاهِرِينَ﴿١٤﴾

and they
became the victorious (uppermost).

`over the
disbelieving group, when We sent Muhammad.'

Imam Abu Jafar
bin Jarir At-Tabari reported that Ibn Abbas said,

"When Allah
decided to raise `Isa to heaven, `Isa went to his companions
while drops of water were dripping from his head. At that time,
there were twelve men at the house. `Isa said to them,

`Some of you
will disbelieve in me twelve times after having believed in me.'

He then asked,

`Who among you
volunteers that he be made to resemble me and be killed instead
of me; he will be with me in my place (in Paradise).'

One of the
youngest men present volunteered, but `Isa commanded him to sit
down. `Isa repeated his statement and the young man again stood
up and volunteered, and `Isa again told him to sit down. `Isa
repeated the same statement and the young man volunteered. This
time, `Isa said,

`Then it will
be you.'

The appearance
of `Isa was cast upon that young man, while `Isa, peace be on
him, was raised to heaven through an opening in the roof of the
house.

The Jews came
looking for `Isa and arrested the one that appeared as him,
killing him by crucifixion.

Some of them
disbelieved in `Isa twelve times, after they had believed in
him. They divided into three groups.

One group,
Al-Ya`qubiyyah (the Jacobites), said,

`Allah
remained with us as much as He willed and then ascended to
heaven.'

Another group,
An-Nasturiyyah (the Nestorians), said,

`Allah's son
remained with us as much as Allah willed and He then raised him
up to heaven.'

A third group
said,

`Allah's
servant and Messenger remained with us as much as Allah willed
and then Allah raised him up to Him.'

The last group
was the Muslim group.

The two
disbelieving groups collaborated against the Muslim group and
annihilated it. Islam remained unjustly concealed until Allah
sent Muhammad,

فَآَمَنَت
طَّائِفَةٌ مِّن بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ وَكَفَرَت طَّائِفَةٌ

Then a group
of the Children of Israel believed and a group disbelieved.

This Ayah
refers to the group among the Children of Israel that
disbelieved and the group that believed, during the time of
`Isa,

So, We gave
power to those who believed against their enemies, and they
became the victorious (uppermost).

through the
victory that Muhammad gained over the religion of the
disbelievers, which brought the dominance of their religion.''

This is the
wording in his book for the Tafsir
of this honorable Ayah.

Similarly,
An-Nasa'i collected this statement of Ibn `Abbas in his Sunan.
Therefore, the Ummah of Muhammad will always be prevalent on the
truth until Allah's command (the Final Hour) commences, while
they are on this path. The last group of them will fight against
Ad-Dajjal along with `Isa, peace be
on him, according to Hadiths in the authentic collections.

This is the
end of the Tafsir of Surah As-Saff.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah.